Two drive-by shootings on a usually quiet Sydney Mines street last month have neighbours worried about their safety Especially the homeowners of the first house on Cottage Street shot at on March 10 who spoke with the Cape Breton Post on the condition of anonymity was up when the shots hit and came through their home around 4:45 a.m They said 12 shots were fired at their home Both homeowners said there were bullet casings left on their floor from the shooting Subscribe now to access this story and more: Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience The homeowner who was up when the shooting happened hasn’t been able to return to work since the incident; they are unable to sleep and suffering from severe anxiety around the same time in the morning at a property diagonally across the street from their home has contributed to the homeowners’ fear for their safety More than five residents of properties near the shootings on Cottage Street spoke with the Cape Breton Post on April 12 about their concerns for safety and police response to the second incident All of the residents said they believe the homeowners of the first shooting aren’t people who would be targeted by violence like this They were described as people who go to work and come home who are good neighbours that would lend things like their ladder when needed The neighbours of Cottage Street are worried the second home on the property that was shot at on March 22 might be intentionally set on fire There is also concern the shooters might return to silence possible witnesses One of the neighbours said they no longer open the curtains on their windows so people won’t think their family saw anything if another crime occurs “I’ve lived on this street for 25 years now and it’s the first time we’ve had something like this happen,” said the neighbour I’m not moving off my street because I love my street so much But my wife has actually said she wants to sell the house now.” The neighbours spoke to the Post on the condition of anonymity except for Holly MacDonald – who lives next door to the first house shot at and across from the second property All of them question Cape Breton Regional Police response to the two drive-by shootings No release was sent after the second incident Cottage Street was blocked off and all of the neighbours said they were questioned by police One said they were asked if the video surveillance cameras on their home picked up the incident and the officer stayed until they located it When officers responded to the second incident the homeowner said an officer did come to their home asking about their video surveillance camera footage When the homeowner said they couldn’t find it immediately the officer left and hasn’t followed-up to see if they found video of the drive-by shooting which they had Police confirmed to the Post on April 14 they now believe the second incident on March 22 to be a shooting and the two instances are under investigation Keith Power also said through the investigation they believe there is no threat to the safety of the homeowners on Cottage Street the neighbours said they haven’t been updated by police and they believe they should have been “There was no communication,” said MacDonald who contacted the Post on March 25 about the second shooting and why it wasn’t getting news coverage No one knocked on my door to say did you see anything I don’t think they investigated the second time.” Power spoke to the Post by phone with police communications advisor Desiree Magnus and said different incidents require different responses that doesn’t necessarily mean they are being investigated differently “I don’t think they (the residents) would have access to the investigation,” Power said it wouldn’t be fair for them to say that we’re treating (the second one) differently.” According to the neighbours and confirmed by the Cape Breton Regional Police release the first drive-by shooting happened Monday Video camera surveillance captured a vehicle pulling up on the side of the road of a house and firing multiple shots Police provided a zoomed-in screenshot of the vehicle from a surveillance video given to them and released it to the media as well as posted on their social media pages The neighbours said Cottage Street was closed to the public and an officer went door to door to speak with them All of the neighbours said police spoke with them and they saw the police forensic unit on scene collecting what they believed to be evidence Police confirmed the forensics unit was on scene and said the street crime unit is investigating The second shooting incident took place on March 22 around the same time (between 4:30 a.m and 5 a.m.) on the other side of the street One of the neighbours the Cape Breton Post interviewed on April 12 said they witnessed the shooting and reported it They said officers responded to the scene and took a statement from them Two other neighbours said police did knock on their door to ask questions who lives across from the property that was shot at The homeowner with surveillance cameras that picked up the second shooting said they weren’t able to find captured footage of the incident when the officer was at their home but have found it since Because the angle of the footage could disclose where it was taken from the homeowner doesn’t feel comfortable sending it to police they are waiting for the officer who came to their home the morning of the shooting to contact them to offer to show it to them they said the officer didn’t return or leave a business card with contact information a vehicle is seen driving up to the curb near a home that has a vacant lot next to it The vehicle stops where the vacant lot is and flashes of light shoot from the passenger side window on an angle that appears to be directed at the house MacDonald and the neighbours said the responding officers left after a few hours and Cottage Street wasn’t blocked off They said the forensics unit vehicle was on the street and two officers were walking around the area later that day where the vehicle in question had stopped The Cape Breton Post was shown a photo of a forensics unit vehicle and two officers standing looking at the ground by a neighbour According to the photo details on the phone The homeowner that took the photo said they did so because it seemed odd that the police were just standing there instead of walking around the property and home to look for evidence Two said they saw a person from the home come out and pick things up off the ground after the shooting and that they saw damage on the side of the home This information could not be confirmed by the Post The neighbours also wonder why the street wasn’t blocked off until the forensics unit could arrive “They didn’t properly secure the scene and they never spoke with all the neighbours either to investigate or to reassure them of what they are doing,” said MacDonald “I understand that police can’t tell every single person But because they didn’t release it to the media and because they didn’t make an effort to speak to the five surrounding houses Cape Breton Regional Police confirmed the road wasn’t blocked off and said the forensics unit didn’t respond to Cottage Street who oversees all major crimes investigations said the forensics unit was on a street over from Cottage Street that day Power said the two calls and scenes weren’t the same which is why the response was different “The way the calls came in was different and different calls come in different ways and police response is never We respond to different situations in different ways and I can’t get into specifics into the investigation but the way the call came in initially was that gunshots were heard in the area,” said Power there was no complaint by any of the residents no damage done to any properties or anything like that as far as blocking the street off or anything like that initially … we couldn’t even confirm at that point that there was a shooting We only had information that somebody heard shots in the area.” Power said due to the damage of the first home shot at police were able to immediately determine it was a shooting and blocked off the road We responded to a home that did have damage caused so we had something to go off right away,” he said it took a little bit of leg work and a bit of investigation (to confirm).” After MacDonald’s first interview with the Cape Breton Post on April 2 a request for comment was emailed to police spokesperson Magnus A response was received on April 3 which reads: police received a report from a person on Cottage Street who heard what they believed to be gunshots Officers responded and found no initial evidence to confirm a shooting and identified no risk to public safety “Police did receive additional information and potential evidence in the following days and continue to investigate if that information is connected and if it can help determine what took place on the 22nd.” After the interview with the group of neighbours on April 12 a follow-up interview with Power and Magnus was done on April 14 Power said they couldn’t confirm the March 22 incident was a shooting upon arrival at the scene because there was no evidence indicating that officers were able to determine it was a shooting from a vehicle at a property on Cottage Street “It wasn’t for a couple of hours later until we actually did confirm that there was a second shooting in the area,” he said “We now can confirm that shots were fired in the area The investigation is taking us into the direction where it indicates that it is an isolated incident.” Power was unable to provide many details about the investigations into the two shootings including if police believed they were related He did say officers were shown a video of the incident which Power said sounded like it captured what the video the Post saw recorded Power said officers responded to the scene on March 22 after the call reporting someone heard gunshots and they canvassed the area before leaving Power said the forensic unit was not called to the scene because officers found no evidence of a shooting The officers … responded and found no initial evidence to confirm that a shooting had taken place and they identified that there was no risk to the public safety at that point,” he said “It wasn’t until a few hours later that ident (unit) responded to a different location It was one street over … The forensics didn’t go to Cottage Street because there is no indication from any of the residents that any of their properties were damaged So there was nothing to collect or nothing to process on Cottage Street.” While the investigation into both drive-by shootings continues Power stressed police don’t believe there is any threat to public safety on the street “The investigation is ongoing and it’s leading us into the direction to believe that it is specific to there’s no danger to the people on the street,” he said the residents feel their safety is threatened as they’ve had no communication from police as to why they shouldn’t be on alert for another shooting or another act of violence against the second home shot at “I keep on thinking that I’m going to wake up in the night and I’m going to see that house on fire or something Or if (the shooters) think someone else is going to say something they might come back If they’re stupid enough and crazy enough to do what they did they obviously don’t care,” said the neighbour Dad doesn’t want me to stay here but you say it’s OK How do you explain the complexities to them without explaining the complexities to them?” said MacDonald The neighbours said they saw what looked like moving trucks at the second home last week and furniture being loaded into them leading them to believe the owner had moved This hasn’t made them feel any safer as they feel still in the dark about the incident and police investigation “Even if (officers) had come back and said we’re still investigating,’” said another homeowner we didn’t know if it was a random shooting or what it was … I definitely think after the second time they should have had somebody parked here for a couple of days.” “If the second event was an isolated event But it was after some neighbour randomly got (their house shot at) so it’s clear that there isn’t public safety because if that can happen to someone who doesn’t know him from a hole in the wall why would we feel comfortable or feel safe with two different incidents in two weeks And then the police decided not to publicize it,” MacDonald said Magnus and Power said the media release about the first incident was sent three days after the shooting because they were looking for information from the public there were specific descriptors that we put out asking for the public to try and help us,” Magnus said “That was another reason why that initial release went out There was very clear evidence of shots fired and there was information that we were looking for public assistance there was no immediate confirmation that the shooting had happened and no identified risk to public safety at that time.” The decision to send media releases is done on a case-by-case basis and the circumstances of the second shooting led to the decision to not send one MacDonald and her neighbours feel police should send media releases every time there is a serious incident such as the second drive-by shooting “And if there was some deeper investigative reason then let the neighbours know we are working on it and this is why we’re not putting anything out.” The Cape Breton Regional Police street crimes unit continues to investigate the two incidents on Cottage Street and are urging people to come forward with information they have With regards to damage on a home after the second shooting Power said they haven’t been told about this and would like anyone who saw that to speak with them Police are also looking for video surveillance footage from other angles than what they have seen If video evidence is used by police on social media or media releases Power said they zoom in to prevent any identifiers of where it came from He also said people who want to provide this evidence but don’t want it used publicly can tell officers and they will respect their request “The people who believe that they have any additional information and they can assist with the investigation we would definitely welcome that and they can contact us directly or anonymously through Crime Stoppers,” Power said Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page The British Virgin Islands is an explorer's dream with more than 60 isles and cays to discover Expert-backed tips and a step-by-step breakdown to ward off these pests We tried 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By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application It is with great sadness we announce the sudden passing of William H Merritt at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital on January 21 2025 after a brief but courageous battle with cancer Bill was the son of the late Hillary and Adele(Poirier) Merritt Bill retired from the NSLC as manager of the Sydney Mines store he loved playing ball with the Sydney Mines Ramblers in his younger years Later in life he enjoyed golfing with friends at Seaview Golf Club in North Sydney He made many friends and was well liked by his neighbors at the seniors complex Pitt Street Sydney Mines especially "Moose" Bill is survived by his sister Delores Tobin Ontario and by numerous nieces and nephews Bill was predeceased by his wife and the love of his life Emma (Burchell) Merritt Miller and the staff at the CBRH for their care and compassion for Bill A special thanks to Maureen MacTaggart for her devoted friendship and care in his final days A private family committal at a later date This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page A carbon monoxide leak has forced the temporary closure of the Sydney Mines and District Community Centre According to a message from Hockey Nova Scotia issued on Saturday “It has been determined there was a furnace exhaust leak at the (Sydney Mines) rink,” that caused carbon monoxide to be released “This was the first time somebody really noticed that — and the first time I have noticed,” said rink manager Clint Lettice “If anybody else have ever noticed it before Sydney Mines volunteer fire chief Paul MacCormack confirmed his crew members were called to the rink on Saturday “They phoned for us because they thought they had a concern,” MacCormack said on Sunday “We ventilated the building and did our air checks We waited until we had readings of zero before we left in all rooms We were there for a couple hours to ventilate it and it’s remain closed until they make a repair.” The concern was first raised by players and others attending a Cape Breton Cup under-15 C hockey tournament which had some remaining games scheduled to take place at the Legatto Street rink “Contractors came in Saturday morning to check out our furnace outside,” Lettice said “They found that a stack pipe was not high enough after all these years “And what happened was the bottom part of that pipe was plugged and the downdraft came back through a hole that was in the pipe I guess it was putting back the carbon monoxide “The kids that were involved (in the hockey tournament) were finished up around 5 p.m and there were a few that had some of the symptoms of carbon monoxide.” The Northside and District Minor Hockey Association (NSDMHA) posted on its social media page advising anyone who was in the Sydney Mines rink on Saturday should seek medical attention through 811 poison control or the Cape Breton Regional Hospital’s emergency room The association said on its post that “multiple families have reported symptoms” and is advising that any person experiencing symptoms should head to the ER for examination “but if asymptomatic they should be fine.” “NSDMHA had spoken to the Regional ER and they are aware and so is poison control,” the minor hockey association posted on its social media page on Saturday “They are notifying all teams; the ER confirmed that was the right choice.” Lettice said he was aware of at least two people who went to ER after reporting symptoms The remaining Cape Breton Cup under-15 C games moved to North Sydney’s Emera Centre Northside The Sydney Mines rink is now shuttered until further notice — at least until the matter is rectified He said it was only when contractors were testing for carbon monoxide that they noticed the 50-year-old rink did not have any carbon monoxide detectors “I do have contactors coming in today (Monday) to fix all the furnace parts — and hopefully we’ll get underway then,” Lettice said but after having our building inspectors come in every year and do a fire alarm system inspection there were no carbon dioxide detectors or heat detectors and there certainly weren’t any in the furnace room “But there certainly will be when the contractors come over and answer my calls.” Lettice said he isn’t putting blame on anyone for the carbon monoxide leak — but he wants to ensure everyone the matter is being looked after “It’s something that happened — it was an accident But I should have known about it; it’s just as much my fault as anybody else’s,” he said we announce the passing of Shirley Jean Voutier on Sunday at Northside General Hospital with her loving husband The daughter of the late Richard Mercer and Elizabeth Mercer (nee Hussey) and the last surviving member of her family and staff of the 2nd floor westward of Northside General Hospital for their dedicated and attentive care of Shirley during her last months The family requests memorial donations be made to the Carman United Church Memorial Fund Donations in her memory may be made to Trinity Church Sydney Mines via e-Tranfer to trinitychurch15@gmail.com or by Canada Post to Trinity Anglican Church PO Box 36 Sydney Mines It is with great sadness that we regret to announce the passing of Michelle Handley at the age of 50 surrounded by her loving family and friends Michelle was a loving soul who always had the brightest smile and the most contagious laugh Michelle took pride in her many roles as a loving wife She fought a courageous battle with cancer for some time Those close to her will tell you she never let it slow her down and believed she would win right until the end Michelle won this battle with pride as she never let it break her spirit or smile Michelle touched many people throughout her lifetime through various activities she enjoyed or just spending time at the baseball field with her husband and children She made many friends through places she worked such as bartending at the Sydney Mines Legion The world is just a little darker without her beautiful smile.  Michelle is survived by her loving husband Billy; children Rebecca and her little Sarah Bear; Mother Mary Capstick and brother Tommy Capstick; Sister-in-law Nicole (Lawrence) Jardine; and brother-in-law Daniel (Amy) Handley As well as a vast extended family of aunts She is also survived by her two best friends who were more like sisters to her than friends always held a special place in her heart.  The family would like to send a heartfelt thank you to the special nurses and CCA’s at the 4th and 5th floor of the Northside General Hospital for their kindness and compassion during this difficult time As well as to the various staff of the Cape Breton Cancer Center and especially to Dr Conrad Oja for their exceptional care and motivation.  and a celebration of life will take place on April 6th at the Sydney Mines Legion Image: dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net announce the passing of Guy Richard Donovan at the age of 60 Guy passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 25 1964.  Guy Richard was the son of the late Jane Elizabeth (McKinnon) Donovan and Bernard Edward Donovan where he grew up with his mom and siblings He loved the Culinary Arts; it was a calling and passion that he studied Guy had always dreamed of working in the restaurant business to be closer to family and enjoy a slower pace of life He enjoyed spending time outdoors and was often found walking and enjoying the environment he lived in to enjoy coffee and conversation with his friends Guy was always quick to lend a hand as a friend and neighbor and could be counted on as the first to help in the community and those in need around him his favorite time was the time that he spent with his family Left to mourn his sudden passing are his sisters Lorraine Cremation has taken place, and in following Guy’s wishes, there will be no memorial service. Donations in his memory may be made to the Canada Heart and Stroke Foundation It is with broken hearts we announce the passing of our Son he was the son of Kevin and Kim (Devoe) Bailey Derrick was a special soul who deeply cared for his family Derrick was a great friend; although he was fighting his own battles with addiction he was able to help many others overcome their own addictions Derrick was a member of Local 92 for many years He was lucky enough to accomplish this this past July 26th Shauna (Derrick) and Paula (Mike); Girlfriend who he loved very much and the love she had for him was unbreakable Lillianne and Lola who were the love and joy of his life  Derrick also had many other special people in his life that he was so lucky to have who he loved to visit; they always had great fun pranking each other with special gifts who were always there for him any time of the day or night.  Derrick had so many close friends but Glen Currie and Kyle Patterson were two of his biggest supporters Derrick was also the godfather of Glen’s daughter Derrick was predeceased by his paternal grandparents Visitation for the late Derrick James Bailey will be held from 1-3 pm Sydney Mines.  Donations may be made to Mental Health and Addictions Nova Scotia you can’t see it but you can feel it.” It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of our loving daughter 2025 at home surrounded by her loving family alongside her twin sister Alexandra (Allie) She was the daughter of Sandra Finlayson and Alex Anderson (North Sydney) Cassidy enjoyed walks down the road with her da she loved and looked forward to going to Haley Street meetings with her friends and socializing Sometimes just relaxing in her favourite spot chatting with her sis Cassidy lit up the room with her beautiful smile and infectious laugh Cassidy is survived by her twin sister Alexandra (Brandon) North Sydney and cousins as well as grandmother Annette Finlayson Cassidy is predeceased by her grandparents Alexander Finlayson and Helen and Earl Drake as well as Joyce and Thomas Anderson uncle Russell Anderson (Happy) and aunt Helen Finlayson There will be a Celebration of Life for Cassidy on Friday January 24th from 1-3pm at the North Sydney Fire Fighter’s Hall A service will be announced at a later date The family would like to thank all the people who helped Cassidy in any way the staff at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital as well as the IWK and to the North Sydney and Sydney Mines Fire Departments Special thanks to aunts and uncles who helped Cass along the way Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text I am Freda Agnes Morrison. I came to live on this plane of life on August 17th 1958 through my parents, Father George Finlay Morrison and Mother Margaret Marie (Fitzgerald) Morrison returned to heaven a while back then you figured it out that I have gone back to heaven where I originated Oh how I love my starry nights. I left Feb 10 2025.  I was born in Dingwall Cape Breton into a beautiful family of 8 siblings  I had two brothers who I loved deeply and spent loads of wonderful times together They went home ahead of me. Brother John R Morrison known as Jackie, Brother George Nelson Morrison known as Nelson. Also waiting there for me is my beloved fur baby Lacy Girl who was my very first baby girl then Abby and living is Scout held in Brother Francis Care There is a huge celebration happening on my arrival back into the fold. I always enjoyed the grand entrances and exits. I was a single lady all this life yet my life was full without a partner. I have a fantastic pool of friends some near some far yet these filled my heart daily for almost all my life true gems. Patsy Thank You for bringing lots of love and joy and laughter into my life  I love traveling the world while exploring its richness I love to dance in full expression so get out of my space when I am on the dance floor. I enjoy sharing and having my margaritas and Cesar’s a glass of red vintage wine served up in a fine glass with vintage cheese on the side  I could tell you some grand stories about my relationship with my older brother Freeman and his sidekick beautiful wife Anne Marie but not enough space on this Obit Oyster on the shell with hot sauce baby I cherished every moment I shared with them. I love them both to my bones.  Next to me is Brother Francis in pecking order and we had a bond like no other. We were everywhere and everything to one another  The many gorgeously amazing nieces that I have the honour of being there for them made me feel like a mom I was their wind beneath their wings plus sharing many joyous celebrations Thank you all as you filled my heart with love and joy  Can’t forget all those handsome nephews that shared my life in many ways as well Michael  Alice /Bill you have been my bedrock over these past years always there through sickness and in health always there to pick me up to celebrate me with great foods with my favourite drinks’ music and gorgeous nights around the campfire the gardener that enriches us with her organic veggies and flowers homemade jams and breads and all the love and simplicity she is our sister forever and her beautiful spouse Tom right beside me all the way  The elder sister Betty /Claude had my back so many times this life when times were tough and the going was tougher. Always held in the love that they are. When a parenting hand was called for But she could never spank me for I am always her baby sister. Her steadfastness kept me grounded even when I fought it. She read me like a book yet never imposed on me  Finally but not last Peggie who shared many laughs with me throughout the years thank you for there are no tears in heaven. I have been totally accepted and embraced by love. As above moving and grooving free of all my earthy ways celebrating and embracing everything I am Cape Breton Regional Police are asking for public assistance after shots were fired in Sydney Mines on Monday morning According to a police press release issued Monday afternoon residents at a home on Cottage Street reported the incident at 7:30 a.m after finding damage on their house that appeared to be bullet holes After the police forensic identification unit collected evidence from the house and interviewed the homeowners police confirmed that gunshots were fired between 4:30-5 a.m The vehicle is described as a dark-coloured hatchback with a loud muffler The vehicle was also spotted driving on Pitt Street toward Legatto Street Investigating officers have collected some video evidence and are looking for more They would like to speak with anyone on Cottage Street and the surrounding neighbourhood who may have video from 3:30-6 a.m Anyone in the area who saw or heard something during the time of the incident is also asked to phone police at 902-563-5151 Information can also be provided anonymously through Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-8477 or online at crimestoppers.ns.ca It is with a heavy heart and profound sadness that we announce the sudden and unexpected death of our father he quietly touched the hearts of the many people whose paths he crossed lifelong underground coal miner who retired from the DEVCO Prince Colliery after 31 years in the mining industry but his primary passions were exercising and spending time with friends and family at his cottage in Kempt Head He found solace in the beautiful views of the Bras D'Or Lake; it truly was his paradise a testament to his deep love for nature that he shared with all of us nephew James and brother-in-law Victor Braden and Michael; sisters Rodina Braden (Mike) and Mary Ross (Donald) Brothers Hughie (Bernice) and Bernie (Charlene) stepchildren from former partner Theresa Turbide and dear friends Cathy Floerke and Roland Skinner and his warmth and affection will be deeply missed Memorial donations can be made to the IWK Foundation Atlantic WatchShots fired in Sydney Mines, N.S.Police in Cape Breton are investigating after shots were fired in Sydney Mines on Monday morning. sister and friend Betty Anne (white) Roland on October 9 Betty was the daughter of the late John and Gladys (Eveleigh) White  She was a member of Carmen United Church where she sang in the choir and volunteered in church functions throughout her life.  Mom is well known for the many years she worked at the Bargain Store in Sydney Mines.  Her eye for fashion and pride in her appearance was evident.  No matter if she was running errands or attending a social event mom was dressed up.  One of her favorite things to do was shopping and she especially loved when she would bump into friends while out and have the opportunity to chat and catch up on each others lives.   She was a very social person and immensely enjoyed being in the company of others Mom is survived by daughters Shannon (Greg Dugas) and Natasha grandson Cody (Kendra) and great grandson Remi.  She is also survived by her sister Joan (Earl) Gracie and special niece Marlene Cantwell.  Mom is predeceased by her husband Bill; her parents John D and Gladys White; brothers Duncan Also left to mourn are her special friends who provided so much support and friendship throughout her last years Mary Harbourview Adult Day Program and Harbourview DVA/LTC Maureen and Leah who were there through Moms final days.  Your compassion and care will always be remembered by her family from 4-7 pm at JM Jobes Funeral Home; Funeral Services will be held on Saturday donations can be made to your local food bank A Sydney Mines man is facing possible charges in relation to a stabbing Wednesday afternoon Cape Breton Regional Police were called about an altercation between two people at an apartment complex on Burchell Street in Sydney Mines police said Emergency Health Services (EHS) took one man to Cape Breton Regional Hospital where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries The second man had left the scene and officers Police believe the stabbing is an isolated incident and said both men are known to each other It is with broken hearts that we announce the passing of Raymond (Ray) Patrick Burchell on Friday at home with his loving family by his side after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer he was the son of the late Cyril and Alvena (Landry) Burchell.  Ray's love for his family was unwavering and never missed a chance to gather with friends After his daughter Paige’s tragic passing in 2016 Nanny and Poppy became her children’s primary caregivers and most recently in the operators and engineers of local 955 operating the boom truck He held various positions and job titles even though it meant leaving home for long periods Ray was diagnosed with cancer 22 months ago; he battled courageously every single day until the very end Forging on as she typically does Joanne was steadfast in her quality care of Ray during his illness Left to mourn his passing his loving wife of 45 years Joanne (Jobes); his three sons Josh (Margaret) Ft Ray is also survived by many nieces and nephews but shared a special bond with two in particular from the time he was a young boy; shared a close relationship with his uncle during Ray’s illness they shared many drives filled with meaningful conversations Ray was predeceased by his daughter Paige,it is believed he has gone to meet her just in time for her birthday The family would like to express their gratitude to the following: Ray's brother Peter who traveled from Calgary to be with Ray during his difficult days taking a “hands-on” approach to his time with his brother To his sister-in-law Lori for her commitment to his ongoing medical needs and her “hands on” approach while caring for Ray Visitation for Raymond Burchell will be held on Wednesday A funeral mass to celebrate his life will be held on Thursday A luncheon will follow at the Sydney Mines Pensioners Club the ones we love live in our hearts forever share the news of his sudden passing on Thursday Lawrence was the beloved son of the late James Guy and Jessie (Childs) Bailey.  leaving Cape Breton at the early age of just 16 to work on the Great Lake boats It was during these years that he met and married the love of his life Lawrence returned to make roots in North Sydney with his family he proudly owned and operated Bailey’s Upholstery for an impressive 32 years. Lawrence could also be found at Central Court where he worked for over 30 years Lawrence and Yvonne built a beautiful life his greatest pride was sharing his love for hunting fishing and poker with his seven grandchildren—Hunter and Danica—each of whom adored their "Poppy." His memory will forever be etched in their hearts.  Lawrence was survived by siblings Elizabeth Swan Debbie Pyke (Gary) and often seen with his closely connected brother Kevin Bailey He was survived by his many fond relatives from Newfoundland sister in laws Karen and Joanne and many nieces and nephews.  Lawrence was predeceased by his parents James and Jessie as well as siblings Patty Kendall and James Guy (Butch) Bailey.  A visitation to honor Lawrence's life will be held on Tuesday The family will welcome friends and family to a lunch-on following services at Central Court Homes in North Sydney It is with broken hearts that the family of William Patrick Burchell announce his passing on July 24th As a young man Bill participated in local sports and was a Master Cadet During his undergraduate years Bill was an accomplished boxer retiring from the sport undefeated (according to him!) He would often threaten prospective suitors of his daughter Miriam with his alleged prowess in the ring claiming that while he might not be quite as good as Nicholas but he always ‘looked good’!  After obtaining a Law Degree from Dalhousie in 1973 Bill practiced under Murray J Ryan and served as county solicitor for Victoria County he served as solicitor for his hometown of Sydney Mines prior to amalgamation In 2023 he celebrated fifty years in practice- a milestone reached by few lawyers.  Although he practiced all aspects of the law Bill’s passion and forte was criminal law He was well known and respected in the courts fearlessly and tenaciously defending his clients often raising novel points of law Bill was a formidable opponent in the court Bill loved Sydney Mines and sat on the Board of Directors of Miners Memorial Manor and the Sydney Mines Credit Union He was an Honourary Member of the Sydney Mines Fire Department holding the rank of Deputy Chief and was actively involved in the department Bill was also a member of the Sydney Mines KOC and the Sydney Mines Legion and an Honourary Member of the Sydney Mines Sportsman Club He also served as a member of the board of directors of the Children’s Aid Society Nothing made Bill happier than when he was able to help someone Bill was well loved and will be greatly missed He held a special bond and deepest love for his daughter Miriam – his “treasure”.   Bill is survived by his loving wife granddaughters Moza and Willow as well as his faithful canine companion Susan and Mary Jane; brother Emmett; several nieces and nephews and his long-time friend and legal assistant Ruth Young.  Bill is predeceased by his parents James and Miriam Burchell A celebration of Bill’s life will be held on Tuesday at 11 am at the firehall followed by a reception In lieu of flowers donations would be appreciated to either the Sydney Mines Food Bank or the Sydney Mines Fire Department It is with great sadness that our family announces Harold Joseph Walker's passing at 82 from Little Pond and Sydney Mines Harold was the son of the late Charlotte and Alex Walker Harold is survived by his loving and devoted wife They were married for 14 years on September 3rd Charlene (Steve) Farrell and Raylene Hatcher And close friends Beverly Bungay and Lawrence Jessome Harold's life was marked by resilience which led him to start working in the crop pits at 14 He then worked for many years in different coal mines until he retired from Prince Mine always ready to tackle any job that came his way Harold loved taking his Lorraine to the Sydney Mines Pensioners every Saturday night to do some dancing Harold was mainly known for his practical jokes Harold’s favorite joke was to get you to go to another room where he couldn’t see you He gave his family and friends lots of laughs and great memories Mc Keough and his secretary Louise for their exceptional care of Harold over the years We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the nurses and all Harbour View Long Term Care staff for their dedicated support and care It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Ron who left us peacefully on March 8th after a courageous battle with COPD 1949 to Mary and Kenneth Cassell in Jackson’s Arm Whillmenia and Florence and by his first wife Jeanette whose kindness and gentle spirit touched the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing him Though he was not one to seek the spotlight his presence was felt in every corner of his life He would always offer a helping hand when needed and bring a sense of calm and reassurance to those around him always putting the needs of others before his own Whether it was through small acts of kindness or simply offering his time and support His quiet strength and warmth will be missed by all who had the honor of crossing paths with him Ron is survived by his brother David (Sheila) Cassell stepson Lloyd Francis and his partner of many years and his rock Lillian Francis and many friends and extended family A private graveside burial will take place at a later date the family requests that donations be made to Haley Street Adult Services The family would like to thank Northside Homemakers for their many years of home care support as well as the staff in 4A of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital and may his legacy of kindness live on in the hearts of all who knew him It is with broken hearts that we announce the passing of our loving husband at the Palliative Care Unit of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Harry was the son of the late George and Louise (Leyte) Burt Harry was a member of the Cape Breton Highlanders and he worked as an orderly at the QE2 Hospital in Halifax He also worked at Eastern Bakery and spent many years employed with Allen’s Ice Company.                Harry loved nature and was always outside doing something Harry was a very active man and spent many hours outside with his children and grandchildren He was always so kind and always wore his heart on his sleeve Harry wanted to go for drives and see special places around Nova Scotia Harry is survived by his loving wife of 50 years and Hughie Sullivan; his sisters-in-law Winnie Burt A celebration of Harry’s life will be held on Wednesday Landry for your compassion and wonderful care of Harry donations in Harry’s name may be made to the Palliative Care Unit of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital or a charity of your choice One of two people charged with stealing a shotgun has elected to be tried in Supreme Court theft of a .20-gauge shotgun and possession of stolen property MacLeod has elected to be tried by judge alone and is now scheduled to have a preliminary hearing on the charges Aug The offences are alleged to have occurred Dec passed away peacefully in her sleep at her residence at Harbourview Hospital in Sydney Mines.  Her family moved to Long Point in Cape Breton when she was a young child In her early 20's she moved to Sydney where she worked at the London Grill on Charlotte Street The 2 were married and were inseparable for over 60 years and had 2 children...a daughter Virginia (Ginny) and a son Henry Family came first to her and our home was always full of family and extended family and was a wonderful home to grow in There was never a shortage of love and homecooked meals and memories that we will always cherish Friday nights at our house was a regular gathering of Grandparents Aunts and Cousins filled with card games and Moms fried chicken and baked potatoes Mom was an outstanding cook and she took great joy feeding anyone that entered our home they moved from the family home to a senior’s apartment on Tillock drive where they continued their happy life with even more people for Mom to cook for They remained there till Stan's passing in 2016 Shortly after his passing Mom began her battle with Dementia and became a resident at Harbourview in Sydney Mines Harbourview staff became another part of Mom’s life she loved the staff and they loved her in return Evelyn was predeceased by her husband Stan her parents Margaret and Maurice Power as well as 4 brothers Thomas Gordon and Walter and 2 sisters Dorothy and Marie She is survived by her 2 children Ginny Hines (Todd) and Henry LeBlanc (Sheila) Brendan and Chelsea as well as 3 great grandchildren Cadence We will mourn the loss of our Mother and know that all that knew her will remember the beauty and love she brought to this world We love you Mom and know you are safely back in Dad's arms where you will watch over us together A Celebration of Mom's life will be held at a later date for family and close friends Cape Breton Regional Police are investigating after shots were fired at a Duffell Drive residence in Mira Road over the weekend Officers responded to a call around 1 a.m. on Saturday from homeowners who heard shots and discovered bullet holes Police obtained information from the residents of the property conducted a neighbourhood canvas and forensic identification officers processed evidence from the scene police believe it was not a random incident and that the people involved could be known to each other Investigators are trying to confirm if there is any connection between this incident and previous shots fired in Sydney Mines Police say “considerable resources” are assigned to all of these ongoing investigations is asked to contact police at 902-563-5151 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at crimestoppers.ns.ca It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we after a lengthy 8-year battle with dementia Elaine was born in Sydney Mines on April 15 the daughter of the late Wiliam Robert Tobin and the late Mary Elizabeth (Lyda) (MacDonald) Tobin of Sydney Mines Elaine is survived by her son Brian Joseph Maxwell (Laura Despres) Predeceased by sister Winnefred and brother Garfield in infancy was Also Predeceased by her longtime best friend Elaine worked for over 35 years as a medical secretary for Dr Shaike and Mary Hutchison for the last 16 years with Dr Elaine’s kindness and compassion were endless with her patients Mom was very present in her children’s lives and supportive of all our endeavors: Hockey and encouraging us all in our musical abilities Elaine's love for her family was boundless She adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren Melody (Evon) and Angela (Noah) Leblanc Danielle and Brad Maxwell She was a mother and grandmother-like figure to many including Ross MacDonald and his boys Angus and Ian and Joy Anne MacDonald and her girls Danielle and Breagh She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and great-grandnieces and nephews of the Tobin Clan Mom was the Reigning Queen of the Tobin Clan She enjoyed taking care of (her) patients at the doctor's office and playing tricks on her coworkers She has been referred to as the life of the party she was an avid bowler on Wednesday and Thursday nights We all loved her size 2 Dexter's and bowling alongside her Elaine enjoyed playing her piano for hours and always encouraged us to be musical The family would like to express our sincere gratitude to the doctors and staff at the Northside Community Guest Home for taking such wonderful care of our mom Cremation has taken; the family will welcome visitors on Friday at JM Jobes Funeral home from 1-3 pm; a service will indirectly follow at 3 SYDNEY MINES — As a new community garden in Sydney Mines blooms with flowers and veggies after a summer of growing local youth and volunteers have earned praise for their contributions crops aren’t the only thing that have grown over the summer — the skills senses of responsibility and experiences of the children have too “The parents are telling us that the kids are asking to come here every day to check on the garden,” said Alana MacLellan the manager of the local Souls Harbour Rescue Mission centre about the program — called “Soil for the Soul.” “They’re learning about where our food comes from and that it takes love nurturing and care — and that when we’re in an environment that’s healthy and supportive members of two local youth programs — the J-Street Community Space and SchoolsPlus Nova Scotia — spent their Monday and Tuesday mornings at the Souls Harbour centre in Sydney Mines to water and cultivate the more than two dozen different plants growing in the garden learning about health and taking part in other activities MacLellan said it was an important initiative as several of the young gardeners come from low-income or underprivileged situations “We’ve loved this opportunity that we’ve taken advantage of over the summer months as the kids are going back to school next week.” Avid local gardeners inquired with Souls Harbour about the possibility while SchoolsPlus said it wanted to do a gardening program with students during summer vacation Souls Harbour received a $13,700 donation in June from the Cape Breton 100 Women Who Care group The centre also accepted donations of soil wood and labour from local businesses for the garden’s construction — while a neighbour has donated all of the garden’s water thus far Souls Harbour had converted a roughly 40-by-50-foot space in the corner of its parking lot into a garden thanks to volunteer help clearing and setting up the space The outreach organization moved into the Sydney Mines space in February One of the more than a dozen youths aged seven to 16 years of age helping out in the garden this summer was Alex Roach adding a highlight of his summer with the program was trying new apples every week Some of the young gardeners attend every week as part of the J-Street program clothing and other resources to at-risk and low-income children (but open to anyone needing the space) J-Street’s manager said the garden has been an excellent way for its members to learn and get involved in the community “It’s an amazing opportunity for the kids to learn to grow their own food and not only that It means a lot to them,” said Hayden Timbury Timbury said these skills are something that they’ll have for the rest of their lives and are tools to fight food insecurity because seven weeks after we planted (in the garden) now it’s this amazing area where we feel calm and safe.” The kids haven’t been the only ones enjoying the new garden to the fullest Local volunteers have led the way in maintaining it Having lived in an apartment for most of her life MacDonald doesn’t usually have the chance to garden as much — until this one came along but I haven’t been able to garden-garden for two years she’s shared knowledge with the youth and other participants on how to work with the garden’s many crops I like digging in the dirt,” MacDonald said SYDNEY MINES — Now that a long-awaited affordable seniors home in Sydney Mines has opened its developers say the ball is already rolling toward two more similar projects on the Northside According to the president and CEO of the Sydney Mines-based New Deal Development Centre Ltd. plans are in the works for two more affordable senior housing complexes — one in Sydney Mines near the one that just opened on Pitt Street the complexes will be able to accommodate 24 seniors each “We’ve had the land donated (to us),” Julian said Because it’s still in early planning stages he couldn’t provide cost or completion date estimates It took us nine months just to get the land straightened out The plan comes not long after a new affordable housing complex at 226 Pitt St While the first residents moved in last winter a grand opening was hosted at the centre on Oct with four other units able to sleep two people Julian said the fact that heat pumps heat most of the building has been a cost-saver Rent for a single-bed unit at the complex — which was named the “David F Julian Building” last week — is $750 per month Julian said it took $3.8 million to build the home a combined $3.9 million was committed to the complex by the federal and provincial governments — effectively covering the project The Cape Breton Regional Municipality councillor in Sydney Mines said that while opening the complex is a great achievement there’s still lots of work left to be done to house low-income or otherwise marginalized locals “It puts a small dent in it,” Gordon MacDonald the District 1 councillor said of the complex’s impact “There are several hundred people on a waiting list to get into any one of these units To be able to fast-track some of these projects is very important to the community of Sydney Mines and the area.” That waiting list is administered by New Deal and includes seniors and other people who have expressed a need for affordable housing MacDonald said Wayne Ryan donated the acre of land in North Sydney on which the new project is being planned The Sydney Mines land came from the Atlantic Memorial Park Society “There’s a lot of people trying to put out housing development projects for the homeless marginalized and people in those categories Those people who don’t have a place to live … they are seniors,” MacDonald said “They worked hard all their lives and paid all their taxes because of years of frustrating setbacks and obstacles that his development company New Deal Development Centre Ltd. Julian said planning on the complex began two weeks before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 with post-tropical storm Fiona and a shortage of building materials and labour delaying the development “The red tape was just astronomical,” said Julian The red tape you had to go through for three different levels of government Julian said the conditions have improved in navigating the bureaucratic side of development He said those improvements have come with provincial and municipal measures to enable builds faster This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.